In theory, he had accomplished what Ailfryd and Lelile wanted him to achieve: The ability to hide himself and his partners once they were out of there. Keeping the Starlight Prayer wasn’t complicated or exhausting, denoting a change from anything else he had done so far. After all, whether or not the action he would perform was magical involved investing forces.

“You use magical power,” the Guardian assured him, “but is intrinsic to your being; it requires a different effort.”

And even though they had more experience, not to mention understanding in that field, the reality is that that spell, while fulfilling their need to continue their journey, worked as the link they shared with his friends. It was not something that could be easily perceived, so the constant expense was replenished by the mere fact of resting and eating. However, he needed to renew it every day if he wanted to continue to maintain that effect.

“You said you’ve known it since you were a little, didn’t you?” Lelile said.

“For as long as I can remember,” Finnian nodded.

For that very reason, he was so used to using it as if it were breathing, to simplify it in some way. And although it was a victory, an inner discomfort did not abandon him. Why had he discovered his magic now and not before? Would anyone in his family know? He doubted that he would have been living a lie, but the puzzle of his existence was too incomplete to get an answer.

“Anyway, there are other things that will be good for you to learn,” Lelile said, rubbing her hands with emotion.

That involved more than memorizing, more words than reciting. He took notes in his notebook, now provided with a pen that did not need to be recharged, leaving a blue-to-gold ink flowing while he wrote what they taught with every detail he could remember.

Words to conjure up safe areas, raise barriers, and learn how to fight curses.

“Do you really think they’re going to try to throw one at us?” Finnian snorted, putting a hand on his forehead.

“Better to have the information and not use it than to need it and not have it,” Lelile replied.

She was strict, and worst of all, Finnian had no one with whom to comment. Aer, Rune and Leith were still held for their training, and because of the look of the witch, he assumed that it would not be very different from his.

“Each has a different base. The knowledge of dragons is highly sought, but few can put them into practice,” Lelile said. “She may be young, although that will not prevent her from continuing to improve. As for Aer and Rune.”

Cultures influenced magic, how they used it, or the forms they took. In the Galya, many preferred to guide themselves with their bodies and make movements to manipulate the energy, which Myrd did. Still, there were so many ramifications that it was always something new to learn.

“And what about the visions?”

“Divination?” Lelile said, considering his words. “It depends on who you ask.”

“What do you think about it?”

“It’s as complicated as any other branch of magic,” the witch replied.

Reasonable, although in this case, it influenced more than talent or intelligence. Divination was a less precise art, as the future constantly changed to know what path was being taken. His visions showed him events that would happen, such as the fact that he met with Aer, Rune, and Leith, or that were relevant to his mission. The angel, eagle and dragon forms returned to his mind, although something was missing from those images that at first were disconnected.

“These are the turning points. Events that need to happen, no matter what you try to avoid,” Lelile said.

“What about the past?”

“It’s an ocean in which one can get lost if one is not careful.”

A too good metaphor. For many knowledge extracted from it, anyone could drown by the need to acquire more, ignoring that they still had a present and a future in which to live.

“But the key comes from the past, from mine and from the Signers, to be precise,” Finnian said. “Wouldn’t I need to know more?”

In that matter, however, the witch and the Guardian agreed. He had to focus on preparing everything he could, especially now that the clock was moving faster. It was ironic, for his day was spent in a sigh that he didn’t even appreciate until he was darkening. When his companions returned, the three were as exhausted as he was, a detail he perceived as soon as they simply sat by his side.

“Your day hasn’t been as easy as mine, right?” Finnian said.

“Too long for our own good,” Aer snorted.

“Lunaluz has made it her mission to harden us as much as she can,” Rune added.

“We need something to de-stress,” Leith suggested.

“How about a little distraction?” Finnian said, widening his smile.

They arranged a quick dinner that they took with them, moving toward the middle zone, although so far from the population that they would not bother anyone. The Galya Lake was generally used for fishing, but no one was prohibited from bathing, weren’t they?

“Wow, I imagine we’ve had the same idea, haven’t we?”

Theri’s characteristic bass voice came out behind them, meeting Kay, Fee and the small alasdair group who continued with them. The healers did their job, and although they had sent a messenger arrow to their kingdom, for the time being, they would remain there in the Galya until they had new instructions.

“I think we all need to vent a little bit, right?” Aer said, throwing himself into the water first.

Soon, none of those present was dry, except for Ead, of course. The hummingbird had chosen to stay with Ailfryd, drawing plans and preparing everything he could. And although that would be great for them, their absence also eased the tension on their shoulders.

“Aren’t you going to bathe?” Theri said, sitting next to him on the edge of the lake, allowing his feet to get wet, too.

“It’s curious. This was the last thing I wanted to do in my world,” Finnian admitted.

Holidays on the beach, filling up with sand and praying not to meet any jellyfish, not to mention everything his father had planned to make those days of rest more sporty.

“You have to value the good things,” nodded Theri, who looked strange without her big helmet. “Enjoy the moment. You never know what may happen.”

For that reason, after removing his clothes to prevent them from being soaked and remaining with his underwear, he threw himself with the others. The cold contact of the water, even at those times, was more than comforting. He offered him clarity and calm that he hadn’t had that day, relieving the constant headache that it didn’t abandon him. And then, when he just floated, allowing for relaxing, a flash crossed his gaze, getting him to shake.

The vision of a city appeared in his mind, although one with canals, surrounded by water and nature, covered with flowers where Finnian could look. The figure of someone with a human aspect was in front of him, carrying something in his hands that he could not pinpoint. The water around him rose, forming a hoop that protected him. An air sphere was created, raising leaves, petals and sand where that person was, pointing to him. Something was approaching, but as soon as he tried to focus, a great shadow began to cover that place, preventing him from seeing what it was. Then someone grabbed his arm.

“We’re here,” Aer said, calmed like the water that surrounded them.

“Have you had a vision?” Rune said.

“What did you see?” Leith added.

“I’m not sure,” Finnian answered. “Why do they always happen when I don’t expect it?”

He doubted there was a way to control them because he did not know what or who sent them to him, but so much surprise began to tire him. Couldn’t he have a quiet time, even to relax on the water? And although he ignored what the site of his vision was, he hoped he would find out. However, a voice different from that of his peers or the alasdair intervened. It was about Embar, followed by Kuel and Onyx. The three trolls never walked far from their allies, not in a place where they did not know most.

“Your vision can wait.”

“I don’t think they work like that,” Finnian admitted.

“The earth is patient, but it is hard,” she continued to say. “Hastening will not give you any benefit.”

“Your visions give you information we need to know,” Aer reminded him. “But that doesn’t mean you must leave now to give it meaning.”

“Step by step” Kuel and Onyx nodded at the same time.

“You are the Signer,” Theri said. “You’re here to help us, but if you don’t care for yourself, you won’t be what we need the most.”

He needed to focus, rest. While Finnian knew he would not manage to turn it away from his thoughts, he could not ruin every moment of his life because something unexpected had happened. He was fighting deadly dangers almost every day, but that was a warning. One that would not be overlooked, but perhaps would look at it with another approach later.

Just settling, Finnian forced a smile, conscious that each and every one of them observed him, waiting for his next move. Just as he gave them strength when they needed it most, they did the same thing. He wasn’t going to be insensitive to the faith and friendship they’d placed in him, and he wasn’t going to start now.

“Although maybe we should get out of the water. Do you know how cold I’ve gotten in a bit?” Finnian said, laughing as he rubbed his arms.

As much as his vision or the future that awaited them. But they believed in him, and he couldn’t let them down, right?